Circuit breaker operating system



April 22, 1952 THIBAUDAT 2,594,247

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l //v VEN TOR A/er/ 7/5/baada/ Aprii 22, 1952 A. THIBAUDAT I 2,594,247

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 yZhwk %m Patented Apr. 22, 1952 $594,247 CIRCUIT BREAKER; 6PERATING S YSTEM Albert "Thibaudat, "Pal-i s, France, "assignor "to Forges et Ateliers 'de Constructions Electriques dc J eumont, Paris, gFrance;-a -.;Frenchbodycorm orate "ApplicationfJune 1, 1949, Serial No. f96l469 In France Jun'e4,l'94'8 7 Claims.

' The present invention, which relates to the practical construction of remote-controlled operating systems for electrical circuit=breakers, has'for its general purpose to operate-such ap paratus with very low quantities of energy and to obtain'high security as regards operationand the protection of the personnel concerned.

The invention is applicable to -a1l'-types of circuit-breakers, and more particula'rlyto a 'novel kind of apparatus ofthis class recently suggested but not ltself forming the subject of'the present invention.

"Such apparatus comprise autonomous insulated operating mechanisms, exposed-to-the high tension of the line and consequently-made nor- -mally inaccessible. 'They *areprovided with a sourceo'f mechanical energy suchas a tankot highly-compressed air, and one or more auxiliary sources ofcontrol current, suchas dry cells or storage batteries of suitable -type. These sources of mechanical and electrical energy, as well as the mechanisms which are provided for operating each circuit-breakerpole separately or --al1'the poles at oncey-are mounted on-the high-tension side, without any connection with the ground. The operating mechan'isms are remote-controlled by "radio apparatus, the receivers being associated with these-mechanisms.

One of the main objects of the*=invention-is to provide simple and effective means for -controlling the circuit-breaker by thesera'dio apparatus, in cases where the operating-systems 'comprisea source of electrical'controlling energy, as well as in cases where-theydo'not comprise such a source.

Another object of the invention-isto operate the circuit-breaker rapidly bythe-very low-output'energy of the radio receivers, bymeans oi electrical, mechanical or pneumaticrelays.

One .ofthe objects of the invention isvtoiobtain the rapid reclosing operationioi the circuit-breakers'controlled bysa radio link 101C011- nection.

The: invention has likewise forlit-s objects to project the sensitive members of asuchiremotecontrolled systems against shocks andvibrationa to allow the inspection and fmaintenance 101' these sensitive members without 'danger.=to-'afford means for manual operation of'the circuitbreakers, without having recourseto theremotecontrol, and to; provide .safety devices 5 in conformi'tywith theregulations prescribedior hightension apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention "will hereinafter-appeard'rom the 'io11owlng )2 description :given withi'referenceto-theaccoin panying drawings, in-which:

Fig. 1 1. :is a diagram representing -8.2 system oi control .byradio link, with two -sourees of 10perative energy and-two sensitive control l'elays;

Fig. 2 is a 'diagram'crelatingto an analogous system having no powerful o! but utilizing mechanical relays controlled sby two electrical relays;

Fig. [3 shows :a -.modification Tot: v-in'g only a single electrical relay;

Fig. '4 represents 1 the structural-arrangement =of the operating: system; and

' Figs. 5 and 6' represent :a: safety devicetheretonmg. :6 being a section of Fig: 5' ron the line 'm-n.

Fig. 7.:is a sectional'vlew d va-supplementary connection.

When the circuit-breaker, or: reach-pole there- -of,i comprises a source of'electrical:energy -such --as a storage battery-which isaconstantlyare- -'charged,- Ior-eXampIe by-a current transformer and 'reetifier unit, "the operating "system may: be arranged in coniormity with Fig.

In that figure, there is shownsa transmitter W for emitting-the radio or Hertzianiwaves used for control, this transmitter- *being atjiground potential and provided wan a suitable system or antennae -cl. This apparatus cooperates "with 'a radio receiver .R which I picks-up --the:Hertzian control waves by '-its i.antennae 'A, -and"which fmay be-provided with a source B2 of'electric'al tenergyi, such-as-a battery of dryicella for. example. This receiver is arranged in the interior 'iof: then-con trol device 1 -represented in r Fig. 4, 'where the apparatus W is shown at 8. a

The apparatus R feeds by@ its output circuit Ml asensiti-ve' relay C foriclosingthe circuit-breaker. sand byiitsoutput circuit M2 3-",Sl'1Sl-tiYCXG13-Y D for "tripping or opening 'the circuit-breaker. iThese two relays-operate selectivehtaccording to -the nature of the 1 signal {picked up by the tennae-A.

Ther closing-relay C- which need-notbecapeble of "producing" directlythe closing or the-circuitbreaker :or phone pole thereoi, igacts upon-an battery B1 which is charged by a suitable device, such as a current transformer, for example, associated with a rectifier unit T Y is a conventional three-way valve mechanically operated by the piston P for controlling the air-inlet and outlet. U

The tripping relay D causes the opening of one pole or of all the poles of the circuit-breaker by means of the intermediate electrical relay F which is energized by the same source B1. This intermediate relay acts upon a sensitive latching device of any suitable type, such as a toggle for example. As illustrated, this latching device takes the form of a pawl L which maintains the circuit-breaker in the closed position by holding a lever N in the position shown, this lever being suitably connected to the moving parts of the circuit-breaker and tending to turn in the direction of the arrow towards its open position under the efiectof a spring S which is arranged for storing up energy upon the preceding closure of the circuit-breaker. Instead of controlling a mechanicall'atch, the device D may control a pneumatic device similar to the valve V.

These arrangements have the result of reducing to a-'minimum the power and the working time of the relays C and D, but they make it neces'sarytdutilizea source of controlling power such as B1.

According'to-Fig. 2, it is possible to dispense with the battery B1 and to utilize for the control onlythe weak source of current 132. In this case, sensitive low-power relays C and D, which are actuated by the receiver'set R, control the operating mechanism or mechanisms of the circuitbreaker by the intermediary of mechanical relays withstored energy or pneumatic relays interposed.

The sensitiveclosing relay C actuates a sensit'ivelatching device analogous to that of Fig. 1, but having stored mechanical" energy. This latching device consists for example of a pawl L1 which-normally holds the bell-crank lever N1. It will be assumed that this lever N1 has been brought' to' the position shown by the previous closure of the high-tension circuit X; in the course of that preceding movement, the spring S1 has-beentensioned by the stop s1, thereby storing elastic energy; vvWhen the circuit-breaker Z iSItO be closed, the closing relay C is energized 'b'ythe receiver R, it sets free that energy soqthat'th'e bell-crank lever N1 turns clockwise and strikes against the stem of a valve V1 (analo'gousto the-valve V in Fig. 1). This valve acts as'apne'umatic relayto direct'compressed air into the mechanism P to close the circuit-breaker. VVith"th'e circuit-breaker 'z closed, asshown, the tripping or opening relay D controls a similar" mechanical relay" having like elements; its

pawl'L sets free the lever N2, and its spring S2 7 whicli'has-been tensioned by the stop $2 in the 'course' 'of the'preceding opening of the circuitbreaker, so that the lever N2 will strike the stem off anoth'erfvaive- Vz provided. for controlling the opening movement" of; the 'p'is'ton mechanism P of the circuit breakerfwhich is provided with conventional'thr'ee-way valves Y1 and Y2 operated by the'fpiston mechanism P for controlling the air inlet and outlet. Instead of'striking' upon a valve Vz'acting asa pneumatic relay, the lever Lg may likewise strike upon a suitable mechanical locking" device of the circuit-breaker, if the latter is of the type urged elasticallytowards its open-position."

i -In the previous example, it hasbeen' assumed that the levers N1 and N2 of the mechanical relays are brought into the latching and energy storing positions shown, directly by the respective previous movements of the circuit-breaker. It is obvious that these operations of preliminary tensioning of the mechanical relays may be effected by separate pneumatic pilot-motors.

In order to effect the automatic reclosing of the circuit-breaker, it may be preferable to provide instead of two separate sensitive relays energized selectively as stated above, a single sensitive relay adapted to act upon the closing and tripping mechanisms alternately, according to the position of the moving parts of the circuitbreaker. It will then suffice to maintain this single relay energized for the operations of the reclosing cycle to proceed automatically in proper sequence.

Such an arrangement is represented in Fig. 3, where the lever G is actuated by the circuitbreaker so as to occupy the position a when the breaker is closed and to occupy the position b when it is open. This lever displaces a sliding rod F1 which in the position (1 represented tensions the spring S2 and in the position b tensions the spring S1. These two springs act upon the operating lever N3 which is held fast in the position shown by the double pawl La, controlled by the single relay E1.

Assuming that the circuit-breaker is closed (position a), if the receiver R energizes the sensitive relay E1 which lifts the pawl Ls, the spring S2 will rock the operating lever N3 counter-clockwise, and the lower part of this lever will strike upon the stem of the valve V2 provided for tripping the circuit-breaker; Towards the-end of the opening movement of the breaker, the lever G will pass rapidly into the position b; the lever Na will rockin the opposite direction and will strike upon the stem of the closing valve V1, and

so on.

The valves V1 and V2. can be arranged and connected as described with reference to Fig. 2.

It suffices therefore to de-energize the relay E at a suitable moment, for example by stopping the emission of radiowaves to the receiver R, in order to lock the circuit-breaker in the desired position, after which the operating lever Na will become latched in the intermediate position shown. 7 1

In Fig. 3, thereis no representation of a source 132 for feeding the receiver R. It has been supposed that in this case the apparatus R picks up beamed radiations having suflicient energy to energize the sensitive relay E without requiring amplification. It is known in the art of ultrashort waves that modern appliances allow of obtaining such ,a result. It is obvious, however, that the system shown in Fig. 3 may also include a source of current corresponding to B2 in Figs. 1 and 2, and conversely that the systems of Figs. 1 and 2 can be worked without such source;

In Figs. 1 to 3, there are shown elements I6, l5 and I0 which allow for manual operation of the circuit-breaker to secure its opening, the element Ill being an insulating pillar which, in turning around its axis, causes its arm 15 to actuate the fork l6 and thereby the element L, L2 Of'La respectively','in order to effect the tripping of the circuitbreaker by settingiree the energy provided for the purpose, 'as' explained above. This'manual operation of the breaker will bode-.- scribed more fully hereinafter with reference to Fig.4". It 3, y '11' The receiver apparatusR of Figs. 1 to 3 and the'iraccessoriesmust be mounted in such a way asnot to be exposed to shocks or vibrations whichmaybe-manifested in the course of the operation of" the circuit-breaker and which may afiecttheir normal working. Moreover, it is desirable-to be able to inspect theseapparatus and accessories fromtime to time in order to check their-condition; these inspections must be possible under the prescribed conditions of safety such that the personnel is not exposed to any danger and that-the service is not interrupted.

'It is likewise necessary to be able to operate the-circuit-breakers by hand, without having recourse to the-remote control, and to comply with specified safety regulations.

*Figfil-represents -an arrangementwhich allows all these results to be obtained. In this figure, thereis shown one pole of a high-tension circuitbreaker,-constituted by a switch proper .l, of any suitable type, having external connections 2 and landmountedupon a base 4; .this latter isxsupported upon a platform 5, insulated in relation .to the ground by means of suitable insulating pillars, represented diagrammatically by the chain lines'ii.

"The base 4 contains mechanism for operating the' switch i, aswell as a source of energy for actuating that mechanism. As stated above,

this source'maybe constituted for example by atank of compressed air (not shown) provided withawalve which, when .opened, effects the closingof the switch. A suitable member, constituted for example by a second valve or by a lockingzdevice is :provided foreifecting the trip- :ping of Jthe'switch l "These members for closing and opening the circuitrbreaker pole are likewise mounted in the interiorcof the base 4. They are actuated by a oontrolsdevioe I which corresponds to the element'R'inFigs. 1 to 3, and comprises one or more receiverv apparatus, sensitive to the action of Hertzian radiations, emitted by a suitable transmitterset B: and directed in the line of the arrow 8. r'IThe-control device 7 may also contain the relays C and D shown in the previous figures, as

well; asthe current sources B1 and B2. with their accessories.

ZT-he'dcvice 7 is supported by a separate insulating pillar Ill which can not only turn around its, longitudinal axis A--B when the lever II is manipulated, but also rock or pivot in a vertical planearound a hinge [2, so as to bring thecon- .trol ,device 1- into its inoperative position designated'by 1' and'shown in broken-lines.

The electrical connections between the control device 1 and the base 4 are effected by flexible leads [3 which terminate in contact members I4; these :Iatter'may take the form of plugs, contact :springsor other devices arranged to establish the desired connections when the pillar i is in the vertical position shown.

The-pillar ID has likewise a mechanical connection with the base 4; this connection is represented in the form of a metallic arm l5 which engages in a .movable fork l6.

.E'achpole of the circuit-breaker may have an over-current relay for causing its tripping in case ,of over-load or short-circuit. This relay, not shown, is disposed in the interior of the base 4 andacts directly upon the operating mechanism,

being at the same high-tension potential.

The system represented in'Fig. 4 can operate in. the following manner:

-fThe'insulating pillar i0 being in the vertical DOSition,,the contact members I4 and thefiexible wires t3 establish the necessary connections-between the radio-receiver-or-receivers R, disposed not transmitted to 'the'controldevice I, nor to the sensitive apparatus which it'encloses, for-"they are supported, according to the invention, by a separate pillar. In'order further not to transmit the said shocks. and vibrations by the arm IS, a sufilcient clearancecan be provided between that arm and the prongs of the'fork Hi.

In order to operate the switch I by "hand, it suffices to actuate the'lever II which is mounted at-a standard height in relation to the ground. By means of this lever, the pillar H] can be turned around its longitudinal axis A-B; the arm [5 then shifts the fork [6 which is arranged to operate directly or indirectlythe members for closing or openingthe switch I, accordingto the direction of this shifting movement. The parts I5 and I6 mayforexample act upon the intermediate relay means, as shown in Figs. 1, 2'and 3. Ihere is thus made available a simple means for closing and opening the circuit-breaker, without having recourse to the remote control.

If it is desired to inspect without danger the apparatus of the control-device 1 for adjustment or maintenance or again to effect for example the recharging or the rapid replacement of a storage battery which the device 7' may contain, the pillar ill is made to rock or pivot in the direction of the arrow l1, thereby bringing the lever l I into the position H and the control device 1 into the position I. This has for eifect to interrupt the connections established .by the contacts l4; these contacts move to the position l4, and the flexible wires to i3, so that the control device I is no longer under high-tension voltage and can be inspected without any danger.

At the moment of the separation of the contacts l4, there may be produced an interruption of capacitance currents, the break being liable to damage the apparatus, such as the sensitive relays which form part .of the control device 1. In order to obviate that drawback, itis possible to provide *a supplementary connection l3 -I4 which is always interrupted last of all and which is connected not to those sensitive apparatus, but to the frame of the control device 1. As shown in Fig. '7, the contact element l4 provided with a flexible'shunt connection 13, is carried by a sliding rod MA and held against the base 4 by a spring MB. When the cabinet I is withdrawn, the moment of separation of the element MA from the base 4 is fixed by a stop I4C located at such as distance that this supplementary conmotion will interrupt the capacitance currents.

When the pillar I0 is not in its normalposition, the possibilities of operating the switch I "are limited to the action of the'maximum-current relay disposed in'the'base 4. Thisrelay "can trip thecircuit-breaker automatically in case of overload or short=circuit, but it is not'possible to operate the circuit-breaker in a non-automatic manner.

It is therefore necessary, before' rocking or tilting the pillar, either to open the "respective pole'of the circuit-breaker, or to transfer'the protection "of the circuit in question -toothcr 7 apparatus; in the first case, it is also necessary to take the prescribed safety precautions such as the isolation of the circuits, and so on.

In order to compel the operator to take these preliminary measures of precaution automatically, recourse may be had to the following means:

' By providing a device for blocking the hinge 12, the rocking or tilting of the pillar H] is allowed only after a certain rotary motion around its longitudinal axis A-B; this rotation is such that it causes necessarily the opening of the circuitbreaker by the arm and the fork I6. Such amechanical block is readily produced for example according to Figs. 5 and 6.

there shown. the insulating pillar It! can rock or tilt around the pivotal shaft 12 (Fig. 5) which occupies normally the position p -p marked in Fig. 6. The pillar is held fast by the plunger core l9 which normally engages in the extension 18 of the pillar Hi. This extension comprises an inclined. slot 2 I.

In order to be able to rock or tilt the pillar 10, there are two possibilities. The first consists in bringing the shaft 12 from the position p-p to the position p'p'; this corresponds to a rotation of the pillar around the vertical axis through anangle q '(Fig. 6). Such rotation produces the tripping of the circuit-breaker by the effect of the members l5 and I5 (Fig. 4), as has been explained already. After such rotation of the'pillar,

the latter can be rocked or tilted around the axis p'p', the plunger core l9 escaping by .way of the slot 2|.

' On the other hand, if the necessary steps have beentaken to ensure the prescribed protection of the line pole or phase in question, for example by means of other circuit-breakers, the safety contacts 22, 22, etc. of the interlocking circuit 23 will be closed, the coil then withdrawing downwards the core l9, and the operator can freely rock or tilt the pillar l0 without actuating the fork I6, that is to say, without tripping the" switch I.

What I claim is:

1. In a pneumatically operated high-tension circuit-breaker of the type controlled by a radioreceiver energizing sensitive magnetic relays, a remote control and emergency operating mechanism connected to the high tension, comprising i a compressed-air container, an air-cylinder with a driving piston and air-valves interposed between said container and said cylinder, mechanical valve control relaying devices of spring type mechanism for remote control and emergency I operation by hand, comprising a compressed-air container, an air cylinder with a driving piston and control valves interposed between said container and said cylinder, mechanical valve-control relaying means of spring type driven by said piston to store up control energy, locking and tripping means, formed by pawls co-operating with said relaying means and driven by said sensitive relays, and an emergency control device for releasing said pawls manually, said device comdriven by said piston to store up control energy,

tripping means for said relaying devices, formed by ratchets attached to the armatures of said sensitive magnetic relays, and a manually op erated control device for emergency operation of the circuit-breaker, said device comprising a pivotally mounted and rotatable insulating pillar mountedadjacent to the circuit-breaker, an insulated control cabinet supported by said pillar, said cabinet accommodating the radio-receiver and those elements of said magnetic relays which require periodical attention, disengageable linking means between said pillar and said tripping means whereby the circuit-breaker can be operated by manual rotation of said pillar, and spring contact elements electrically connecting said sensitive relays inside said cabinet with co-operating control elements carried by the circuit-breaker, whereby pivotal movement of said pillar from itsnornial position disengages said linking means prising an axially rotatable pillar pivotally mounted in an upright position adjacent to the circuit-breaker, an insulated control cabinet'carried by the upper end of said pillar for accommodating the radio-receiver and those of the control elements which require periodical attention, disengageable linking means for tripping said pawls by rotation of said pillar, said disengage,- able linking means formed by a movable control fork upon said pawls and a co-operating control rod upon said pillar, and elastic contacts interconnecting said control elements carried by said pillar with the remaining control elements carried by the circuit-breaker itself, said linking means and contacts being disengaged upon pivotal movement of said pillar from its upright position towards an inoperative position. I

3. In a circuit-breaking combination according to the claim 2, an additional elastic contact be: tween the cabinet and the live parts of the circuit-breaker, said additional contact being independent of the sensitive control elements of the relaying means and having a longer stroke than the first-mentioned elastic contacts, whereby said additional contact separates last of all for interrupting capacitance currents. 4. In a circuit-breaker combination according to claim 2, safety means for preventing pivotal movement of the pillar towards its inoperative position until the circuit breaker has .been tripped, said safety means being formed by a locking device at the pivot of said pillar, said locking device comprising an extension upon said pillar, said extension including a slot, and a locking plunger core engaging in said slot, and said slot being inclined in such a direction that said pivotal movement can take place only after man ual rotation of said pillar to produce the-tripping of the circuit-breaker.

5. In a circuit-breaker combination according to claim 2, safety means for preventing pivotal movement of the pillar until the preliminary op-' erations prescribed by safety regulations have been effected, said safety means comprising a safety circuit, a source of current for said circuit, a plurality of contacts in said circuit, said contacts being interlocked for closing said circuit when all the prescribed preliminary safety oper ations have been effected, a coil energized by said circuit when closed, and a plunger forming an armature of said coil adapted to lock the pivotal movement of said pillar when said coil is de energized. 7

6. In a high-tension circuit-breaker of radio remote control type, having pneumatic operating mechanisms including a piston located at the high potential of said circuit-breaker, a radio receiver and intermediate relay means for con, trolling said operating mechanisms, said. inter+ 9 mediate relaying means being energizable by the output of said radio receiver, an entirely autonomous control mechanism comprising a low power closing relay and a low power tripping relay both energizable by output circuits of the radio receiver, two separate mechanical valve control relaying devices of spring type, each including a rotatable lever, the first driven by the closing movement of said piston to store up control energy and the second by the opening movement of the circuit-breaker, and separate sensitive retaining elements mechanically connected to the armatures of the corresponding low-power relays and arranged for normally locking said levers in their respective terminal positions, the energization of the corresponding relay causing one of said levers to be released, two air-valves for controlling the operation of said operating mechanisms, said valves being positioned to be operated by the respective levers when released, and a device for emergency actuation of said relaying means, said device comprising a pivotally mounted and axially rotatable pillar located in an upright position adjacent to the circuitbreaker, an insulated control cabinet carried by the upper end of said pillar for accommodating the control elements which are sensitive to shocks and vibration and require inspection, disengageable linking means for releasing the stored-up control energy of said spring elements by manual rotation of said pillar, said linking means being formed by a movable control fork upon the tripping relay and a co-operating control rod upon said rotatable pillar, and elastic contact elements interconnecting the sensitive control elements accommodated by said cabinet with control elements carried by the circuit-breaker, whereby the rocking of said pillar into inoperative position disengages said linking means and contact elements so that said cabinet can be safely inspected.

7. In a high-tension circuit-breaker of the radio remote control type, having pneumatic operating mechanisms located at the high potential of said circuit-breaker, a radio receiver and intermediate relaying means for controlling said operating mechanisms, said intermediate relaying means being energizable by the out-put of said radio receiver, an entirely autonomous control mechanism comprising a single low-power relay connectible to the out-put of the radio receiver, and a two-way mechanical relaying device including a rotatable control lever, two spring elements for biasing said lever towards opposite end positions and for storing up mechanical energy during the closing and opening movements respectively of the circuit-breaker, a sensitive retaining element mechanically connected to the armature of said low-power relay for releasing said lever upon energization of said relay, two air-valves for controlling said operating mechanisms, said valves being positioned for operation by said lever in its opposite end positions respectively, and a device for emergency actuation of said relaying means, said devicecomprising a pivotally mounted and axially rotatable pillar located in an upright position adjacent to the circult-breaker, an insulated control cabinet carried by the upper end of said pillar for accommodating the control elements of said relaying means which are sensitive to shocks and vibration and require inspection, disengageable linking means for releasing the stored-up mechanical energy of said spring elements by manual rotation of said pillar, said linking means being formed by a movable control fork carried by said mechanical relaying means and a co-operating control rod upon said rotatable pillar, and elastic contact elements interconnecting the sensitive control elements accommodated by said cabinet with control elements carried by the circuit-breaker, whereby the rocking of said pillar into inoperative position dis engages said linking means and contact elements so that said cabinet can be safely inspected.

ALBERT THIBAUDAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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